In 1978, the United States was a whirlwind of social upheaval. One name was at the center of it all: Allan Bakke. You probably remember him from history class or law school textbooks. He was the guy who sued the University of California, Davis, basically starting the decades-long war over affirmative action. But while the case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke became a permanent fixture in American law, the man himself did something pretty unusual for a national lightning rod.
He disappeared.
Not in a "witness protection" kind of way, but in a "I just want to be a doctor" kind of way. If you’re wondering is Allan Bakke still alive, the short answer is yes. As of early 2026, he is 85 years old. He has spent the last several decades living a life that is almost aggressively private, especially for someone who fundamentally changed the American education system.
The Man Who Just Wanted to Practice Medicine
Allan Bakke was never a professional activist. He was a Marine. He was an engineer at NASA. Honestly, he was just a guy in his early 30s who decided he wanted to career-change into medicine. When he was rejected twice from UC Davis—despite having test scores that were objectively higher than some minority applicants admitted through a special program—he didn't set out to become a conservative hero. He just wanted his seat in the lecture hall.
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After the Supreme Court finally ruled in 1978 that he had to be admitted (while also saying race could still be a "factor" in admissions), Bakke didn't do the talk show circuit. He didn't write a memoir titled My Fight for Fairness. Instead, he showed up at UC Davis at age 38, kept his head down, and started studying.
He graduated in 1982. Imagine being his classmate. You're 24, and the guy sitting next to you is the most famous legal plaintiff in the country. Reports from that time suggest he was polite but distant. He wasn't there to talk about the 14th Amendment; he was there to learn how to treat patients.
What is Allan Bakke doing today?
For years, journalists tried to track him down. They usually failed. Bakke eventually settled into a career as an anesthesiologist. He practiced in Rochester, Minnesota, at the Mayo Clinic for a while, and later in other parts of the country.
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People who worked with him often didn't even know who he was. Think about that for a second. You could have been put under for surgery by the man who caused a constitutional earthquake, and you’d just think he was a nice older doctor with a steady hand.
Why is Allan Bakke still alive in the public consciousness?
The reason people still search for him isn't just curiosity about his health. It’s because the legal house he helped build was recently torn down.
In 2023, the Supreme Court effectively ended race-conscious admissions in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case. This essentially finished what Bakke started nearly 50 years ago. While Bakke’s own case allowed race to be a "plus factor," the new ruling says even that is a bridge too far.
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Even though he's retired and likely enjoying his 80s far away from the cameras, Bakke remains the "Patient Zero" of the affirmative action debate.
- Born: 1940
- Military Service: U.S. Marine Corps (served in Vietnam)
- Medical Degree: UC Davis, Class of 1982
- Specialty: Anesthesiology
The Mystery of the "Other" Allan Bakke
If you’ve seen recent headlines about an Allan Bakke passing away, you’re likely seeing an obituary for a David Allen Bakke from Minnesota who died in 2025. That was a different man—a talented athlete and hockey coach. It’s a common mix-up because the names are so similar and both have ties to the Midwest.
Our Allan Bakke—the doctor—has remained shielded by his family and his own desire for anonymity. He hasn't given a major interview in decades. He doesn't have a public Twitter (or X) account. He isn't lobbying for or against current court cases.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs and Legal Scholars
If you're looking into Bakke's life to understand the current legal landscape, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Read the Original Opinion: If you actually read Justice Lewis Powell's 1978 opinion, it's a mess of contradictions. It’s why the law was so confusing for 40 years. Understanding his "diversity" rationale helps explain why the 2023 Court felt the need to scrap it entirely.
- Separate the Man from the Myth: Bakke was a veteran and an engineer before he was a plaintiff. His story is more about a mid-life career change that went off the rails than a political crusade.
- Check Your Sources: When looking for updates on figures from the 70s, always cross-reference middle names and birth years. The "Bakke" name is surprisingly common in certain parts of the U.S.
The reality of Allan Bakke's life is a reminder that sometimes, the people who change history the most are the ones who want the least to do with the spotlight once the dust settles. He got what he wanted—the chance to be a doctor—and then he went out and did the work.